E 687 
• C786 
Copy i 



I A SERMON 



SUGGESTED BY TITE 



^ 



653 



v8,o 5 \S 



ion of President 




AND PREACHED BY TITE 



REV. SIDNEY CORBETT, D. D. ; 



d{- St Wiouxa* CfiutcJ't, 



BATTLE CREEK, MICHIGAN, 



SUNDAY. SEPTEMBER 25, 1881. 



Ik. 



.£ 



■ C78& 






s£ 



MEMORIAL SERMON 



" Presumptuous are they, self-willed, they are not afraid to 
speak evil of dignities." 2 Peter 2 : 10. 

" Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers, for there is no 
power but of God ; the powers that be are ordained of God. " Ro- 
mans 13 : 1. 

" Honor the king. " 1 Peter 2 : 17. 

WHEN jewelers wish to adorn a ring, they some- 
times compass their aim by appropriating for it 
only a diamond solitaire ; but at other times they are more 
prodigal, and then they cluster together several choice gems 
of the finest water, and thus bejewel the hand of the owner 
with diversified resplendence. Now, the God of nature and 
the God of the Bible are one and the same, and as he im- 
beded mineral gems in the bosom of the earth, so, likewise, 
has he incorporated verbal gems on the pages of sacred 
Scripture ; and as the lapidary exercises his own judgment 
as to the number of precious stones he shall employ to gar- 
nish the jewel he is making, so it is the lawful prerogative 
of the preacher to determine for himself how many inspired 
epigrams or Bible gems he shall appropriate in order to 
gird his sermon with Scriptural endorsement. 

On this occasion, I have ventured to appropriate three 
Bible jewels as texts for our discourse. I do not intend to 
give a theological exegesis of all, or of any of them. I em- 
ploy the three because in their combination they corruscate 
and forecast the very line of thought we are venturing into. 



The world's great dramatist teaches that " after Julius 
Caesar was wickedly and cowardly stabbed in the senate 
house, his body was taken to the Roman forum, where 
Mark Antony pronounced his eulogy, commencing with 
these words, ' Friends, Romans, and countrymen, lend me 
your ears. I come to bury, not to praise him.' " And with 
a slight change of phraseology I at this time may appropri- 
ate thus much of the exordium of the speech of Mark An- 
tony and say to you, here and now, "I come to bury President 
Garfield, and not to praise him." Our deceased President 
requires no special panegyric from me, for his praise is in 
all of your hearts and constantly wells up therefrom. If 
this is not the case, what meaneth the Bible aphorism, 
" From the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh"? 

We said, "We have hither come to bury our deceased 
President." Nor do we wish to qualify that assertion. It 
is true, the President will have his family — his bodily bu- 
rial on the morrow; but as his jurisdiction extended over 
all of the United States, so all of the people of these United 
States who cannot then and there be present, claim the 
right to mournfully shed the tear of sympathy, and each 
one to say for himself and for herself, " Earth to earth, ashes 
to ashes, dust to dust;" and when thus much is said and 
done, and after we have commended his soul to his Saviour 
and his afflicted family to Him who has promised to be a 
husband to the widow, and a father to the fatherless, then 
we too have to some degree participated in the burial of 
our nation's beloved chieftain. 

Order, which is only another name or word for govern- 
ment, is Eeaven's high law, and it is because the celes- 
tial government is not infringed upon, that uninterrupted 
harmony become " the music of the spheres." 

It is because government or order is Eeaven's high law, 



that at altitudes which no unaided eye can reach, the cen- 
tral forces are producing circular motion, by spurring the 
heavenly bodies on with a centrifugal propulsion, whilst 
at the same time, they are tethered in their God-given or- 
bits by a centripetal force, thus causing them to rotate. It 
is because government or order is Heaven's high law, that 
no frictionizing occurs amongst heaven's starry host, and 
that each several star radiates its own quantum of splendor. 

But as it is in celestial regions, so, too, is it in this nether- 
most world. Order, or government, is the watchword of 
the entire physical economy. The tides know their time to 
ebb and flow, and the oceanic waters have their own metes 
and bounds beyond which they do not trespass. 

The year is broken into fragments that we call seasons, 
and dumb nature clothes itself with verdure, and flowers, 
and fruit, and never makes a mistake as to its own time of 
visitation. The orchards do not blossom and fruit in win- 
ter, and the water never congeals into ice during midsum- 
mer. God prearranged a programme for all the works of 
his hand, and each several creation performs its own indi- 
vidual part in the order the great Creator ordained. 

Now, as order, or government, is God's law throughout 
all of physical nature, so order or government is God's law 
throughout the moral realm. Where government is not, 
there is chaos. A vessel at sea without government would 
become shipwrecked. An army, ungoverned, would be- 
come a body of uniformed tramps. A school, ungoverned, 
would become a rendezvous of ignorance and self-will. A 
business ungoverned, would end in bankruptcy. A home, 
ungoverned, would culminate in domestic infelicity and dis- 
grace. 

Whoever has travelled in the Orient, knows that even 
the roving desert Arabs, or Bedouins, are under the strong- 



est sortof a government. The Czar of all the Russians \v;ts 
never more autocratic and imperial in authority than the 
Sheik of a tribe of Bedouins. From his dictum there is no 
■il. And thus you may journey where you will, up 
and down, throughout the moral realm, and you every- 
where will find a throne and a scepter for government, or 
order. 

In the days of man's innocency in Eden, there was a gov- 
ernment that told the primal pair what they could eat, and 
what they should not eat. If this was not the case, there 
could have been no penalt} r awarded to disobedience. Tf 
in this lax age, it is possible occasionally to find a turbu- 
lent and restless people, who for the nonce have shaken off 
order, or government, and have become a law unto them- 
selves, you are at once brought face to face with "Com- 
munism," which is the progeny of him who made war 
nst the order, or government, of Heaven. And thus wq 
discover that throughout God's universe there must be 
either government or " Communism." If we have govern- 
ment, we arc protected in our person, and in our property. 
We are as safe whilst we sleep as when we are awake. If 
l.usiness or pleasure calls us away from the theatre of our 
< nterprises, the property we leave behind is secure, because 
the Argus eye of a benign government keeps watch and 
ward over all of our interests. In a word, "justice and 
equity" are the mightiest factors in <\^vy good government. 
But with "Communism" all is different. In "Communism" 
there i no security for either person or property. "Com- 
munism" and "license" are one and the same. "Commun- 
ism," means license to burn, license to steal, license to kill, 
license to confiscate, license to ravish, license to break down 
the defenses of civilization. It means bloody handed van- 
dalism, treading law and order underneath its feet. 



If you would know what " Communism " is, tear out and 
read a page of French History. And as you read, your 
heart will sicken, and your blood will curdle, and you will 
turn away from the record in disgust. 

I was at Paris during the days of the last empire. At 
that time it was the most beautiful city in the world. It 
was the grand rallying spot of the wealth and refinement 
of all nations. Its magnificent boulevards were moving 
panoramas. Its public buildings and galleries were the 
wonder and envy of all visitors. Its schools for science and 
art were supremely beneficient. A few years elapsed, and 
again I visited that world's Capitol. During the period of 
my absence, "Communism" for a time had throttled gov- 
ernment, and anarchy had enthroned itself. And, oh, 
what a scene of desolation was before me! " Ffaternite," 
and "Egalite," that formerly were inscribed upon the city 
walls were effaced, and " Ichabod," which means, " where 
now is thy glory?" seemed the only remaining legend. 
The public archives, with their valuable documents, were 
destroyed. 

The grandiose Hotel de Ville, or City Hall, with all its 
wealth of architectural beauty and history and commodi- 
ousness, was only a smoking ruin. The Arc de triomph, 
that the first Napoleon erected to sing the praises of French 
prowess, was battered and defaced. The costly and elegant 
church of the Madelaine was bruised. The palace of the 
Tuileries was laid low. The Column of Vendome had come 
down, and measured its length upon the pavements. The 
public buildings were smoking and charred wrecks, and 
men who, in the days of the government, were capitalists, 
became, by reason of the "Communistic reign," impover- 
ished and disheartened. The beastialized sensualities of 
that " Communistic mob " we shall not dwell upon. They 
are too revolting and too sickening to uncurtain. 



6 

We have only sought to show that government is a na- 
tion's safeguard. It is man's necessity. Where there is no 
government, there will be found the fury of unbridled pas- 
sions. 

The worst government is better than anarchy. In proof 
of this, let us consult St. Paul, who was versed in law as 
well as in Christianity. St. Paul wrote a letter to the 
Christians at Rome, and in it he gave them some advice 
showing them it was their duty to be loyal to those in civil 
authority where they dwelt. Some of the Jews entertained 
scruples as to the propriety of obeying heathen magistrates. 
St. Paul wrote a letter to show them they need have no 
compunctions on that account. He did not tell them that 
theocracy, or monarchy, or democracy was best. He wrote 
to tell them they providentially were living in an empire, 
and under the government of an emperor, and that every 
one of them owed allegience to that emperor and to his laws. 
He said to them, " Let every soul of you be subject unto 
the higher powers. For there is no power but of God ; the 
powers that be are ordained of Cod. Whosoever resisteth 
the power, resisteth the ordinances of God; and they that 
resist shall receive to themselves damnation." Thus we 
find the erudite St. Paul enjoining the Christians at Rome 
to be obedient to the civil authority that surrounded them. 
Let us turn back the pages of history, and see who the 
ruler of Rome was at the time St. Paul wrote that letter. 
It was no other than the infamous Nero, one of the most 
cruel and wicked men who has trod our earth. There is no 
conceivable sin of which that emperor was not guilty. He 
was a robber, a despot, a glutton, a poisoner, a drunkard, a 
liar, a coward. He revelled in the sufferings of others. 
He murdered his distinguished teacher. He murdered his 
mother. He murdered St. Paul, and subsequently he emu 



mitted suicide. And such a vile man as that is the very 
emperor that the Apostle told the Roman Christians to obey. 
Why? — Because in the providence of God Nero was at the 
head of the civil authority, and " the powers that be are 
ordained of God." None of us can read the inscrutable ways 
of Providence, and hence we cannot comprehend why some 
persons are born under the authority of a.civil magistrate 
who is as base as England's Jeffreys, or as Rome's Nero, 
any more than we can understand why God suffers some of 
us to be born under the authority of a wicked or drunken 
father, and then writes as upon the palms of our hands, 
"Children, obey your parents." In both instances, we can 
only stay and encourage our hearts with the apostolic as- 
surance that "the powers that be are ordained of God;" 
and what we cannot fathom now, we shall clearly compre- 
hend hereafter. 

By what we already have observed, we see two plain 
facts standing out in bold relief. The first is, "The end and 
aim of all good government is to promote human happi- 
ness." The second plain fact is, "the superficiality of the 
atheistical theory, that magistrates in civil government are 
elected simply by the people." Why, even Louis Napoleon 
(fatalist though he was) always signed has state documents 
as Emperor of France, " by the will of the French people, 
and by the grace of God;" and it is an absolute necessity 
that God be recognized in all earthly governments — for how 
otherwise can he be the Supreme Ruler of the universe, — 
the Lord of lords, the King of kings ? St. Paul gives us 
the cue when he says, " Whether thrones, or dominions, or 
principalities, or powers, all things were created by him 
and for him." If we exclude God from human govern- 
ments, thereby virtually saying, " We have no need for 
him," how absurd is the observance of "fast days," and 



8 

"thanksgiving days," how self-deceptive our praying to 
him during national trials, during seasons of famine, and 
plague, and locusts, and drought. 

A government with God left out is a misnomer. Such 
an idea savors of barbarism. It must be said of all lawful 
governments, as is said of individuals, "In God we live and 
move and have our being;" and if God should forget the 
governments of earth as they so frequently forget him, such 
sovereignties would disintegrate and crumble. 

Now, one of the lessons of our sermon is this : " Every 
one of us should be subject to the legitimate governing 
powers that surround us, even in word and thought." We 
must not kick against the authority that is placed over us. 

Most of us are refractory in our habit of thought, and in 
the language of another we say, " We will not have this 
man to rule over us." We "speak evil of dignities." 
Now, loyal obedience is something that can be acquired 
only by practice. It is quite an art for a man to become 
as well disciplined in civil affairs, as an army soldier is 
disciplined in military life. Such an attainment is a part 
of one's education, and the earlier in life it is undertaken, 
the sooner it will be acquired. 

If von should go to a man fifty years old who had never 
learned his letters, and with an open book ask him to read 
it, he would tell you he had not learned his alphabet, and 
therefore could not read the 1m, ok ; and so, it' you shouldgo 
to a man fifty years old, who, during all his lite, had been a 
violator of law, and should ask him to become loyal to 
home, and church, and state government, he would tell 
you it was impossible, ami because he did not know 
the alphabet of obedience, because all his life Ion--, he 
"had been ;i law unto himself;" and this logically brings 
us to just the thought we wish to infix in the minds of 



9 

every one present; viz., "If you want loyal citizens," "if 
you wa.it loyal and reliable clerks," "if you want obedient 
scholars," "if you want Christ-like Christians," you must 
fashion your children by wholesome discipline in the morn- 
ing of life, in your own homes, and beside your own hearth- 
stones. 

Children who set home government at defiance, will set 
the laws of the land at defiance, and this incontrovertable 
fact lays a terrible responsibility upon the fathers and 
mothers of our land. If parents sutler their home laws to 
be trodden under foot, they have none but themselves to 
blame, if their children become emboldened, and in after 
years attempt to tread state laws under foot, and thereby 
disgrace tlumselves and all who are bound to them by 
kinship or friendship. Solomon was second to none in 
wisdom, and he emphatically recommended home descipline. 
To demand obedience from our children " is not," as some 
suppose, " to crucify our affection for them." On the con- 
trary, " to insist upon filial obedience tends to augment, 
the children's chances for success in after life." 

St. Paul explains what we mean, in one verse, when he 
says: "For rulers, whether parents or teachers, are not a 
tenor to good works, but to evil. Wilt thou then not be 
afraid of the power ? Do that which is good, and then 
thou shaft have praise of the same." And thus we come 
back to our former statement that, " the foundation of all 
good government is to be laid by the parents, around and 
about their own firesides.'' 

The subject we are discussing was terribly illustrated on 
the 2d of July last, by the assassination of our President. 
Charles Guiteau, whose entire life has been that of disobe- 
dience and self-will, cowardly and diabolically shot down 
without cause or provocation the chief magistrate of 



10 

our nation. This assassin was once an innocent child, and 
as plastic in the hands of his parents as clay is plastic in 
the hands of the potter; but, through lack of domestic dis- 
cipline, he soon was emboldened to cast off home restraint, 
and walked in his own ways, and indulged in his own 
devices; until at last, with an insatiable itch for notoriety, 
he caught the spirit of the Russian Nihilists, and fired the 
bullets that ultimately closed the life of our beloved Presi- 
dent. And this review of the culprit suggests the terrible 
thought that possibly some of us through our lack of parental 
discipline, are raising up about our own hearthstones 
assassins just as diabolical as this same Ouiteau, whom the 
civilized world execrates. 

But is there not one single extenuating cause for the ne- 
farious and murderous act of this assassin ? There is a 
proverb that " even the devil is entitled to his due," and so 
too I think this blood-thirsty murderer should have the 
benefit of every extenuating incentive to evil, no matter 
how feeble it is. 

Now I assert, and without fear of challenge, that we live 
in an age and country given over to the assassination of 
reputation, ami the natural outcome of assassination of rep- 
utation, is corporeal assassination. We not only "speak 
evil of dignities," but we speak evil of our peers. We un- 
kindly <|uestion each others' motives for action, or non-ac- 
tion, and so long and so freely have we indulged in such in- 
justice that we are more prone to think evil than good of 
our fellows. 

Now-, far be it from me to accuse anyone of being the 
direct instigator of the martyrdom of our President, but the 
conviction will not down at my bidding, that if there had 
been do disparagement of our deceased President's acts or 
motives, it would never have entered the mind and heart 



11 

of his assassin to shoot him. The poor, weak-minded man 
heard our chief magistrate calumniated until he thought he 
could win national fame by enrolling him with " the noble 
army of martyrs." The English dictionary has no word 
sufficiently stout to express the atrociousness of this assas- 
sins act. My whole nature revolts when I call to remem- 
brance that murder and that murderer, and yet, inasmuch 
as " two wrongs never make a right," I hope no unlawful 
means will be used in his retirement from earth. 

We have been advocating " good government," and it is 
not good government to interfere with the majesty of jus- 
tice. " Vengeance is mine, I will repay saith the Lord," and 
we can safely afford to leave this murderer in the hands of 
an aveno'ino- God. 

We have given you a pronounced case of what eventu- 
ated from a home circle where domestic discipline was ig- 
nored, which was nothing less than "regicide," or murder of 
a nation's president. 

Now let us turn to a pleasanter picture, to the home cir- 
cle of the parents of James A. Garfield. It was a humble 
abode. " Frugality " was the watchword in that house- 
hold ; but thank God there was honesty and thrift, and an 
outreach for things that were noble, and pure, and intel- 
lectual. " Love " was the presiding genius in that family, 
and God's government and domestic government were 
never called in question by any of its members. In that 
rural home the father and mother were honored, and God 
was acknowledged and worshiped. The filial obedience 
that was required of James A. Garfield in his boyhood 
home, became the habit of his nature and entered into all 
the checkered scenes of his after life. He never became 
self-willed. He never cast off parental restraint. To his 
dying day he was an affectionate son ; and to gladden the 



12 

heart of his sainted mother, who placed his feet in the 
paths of wisdom and righteousness, was the climax of his 
ambition. 

It was a great privilege to have been at our nation's scat 
of government on the fourth of last March, and to sec there 
assembled the ambassadors of all nations in their gorgeous 
diplomatic attire; to witness that unusual military display 
with its pomp and pageantry; to listen to the choicest of 
martial music; and to see one chief magistrate retire, and 
another take the oath of office and his predecessor's place, 
and without any governmental friction i zing. But the sub- 
limes! sight at Washington on that inauguration day, was 
the betokened filial affection of James A. Garfield, wdio as 
soon as he was inducted into office, turned him about, and 
entwining his arms around and about his dear old mother, 
imprinted upon her brow his kiss of loving gratitude. 
Happy the mother who has such a son, and thrice happy 
the son who has been thus mothered. 

What an auspicious day the fourth of last March was to 
President Garfield. He who was cradled in penury, by 
energy and honesty of purpose had surmounted v\r\y im- 
pediment, and attained (he highest gift the American na- 
tion could bestow. In his earliest official position he pur- 
chased for himself a good degree, and afterward was pro- 
moted to the highest offices of trust, until he stood upon 
tie' loftiesf pedestal the republic could furnish. Like 
Longfellow's alpine tourist, he seemed to have inscribed 
upon his banner " Excelsior ! " and like that p et's hero, he 
too went climbing upward "from conquering to conquer." 

Since Mi-. Garfield was inaugurated, six moons have 
waxed and waned, and whereas al that time all was big 
with promise, and "hope told its mosl flattering tale," now, 
i hat President lies in state awaiting to-morrow's burial, and 



13 

a nation irrespective of party or section, is plunged into 
sorest grief. 

"How unsearchable are God's judgments, and his ways 
past finding out." By perseverance that was indefatigable, 
President Garfield became second to none in our country in 
scholarship. He possessed a versatility of talent. He was 
a natural orator, which natural gift was perfected by study 
and experience. He was remarkably proficient in the dead 
languages, and was so thoroughly up in modern languages 
as to be able to think in the foreign tongue in which he 
was speaking. He was not a politician, he was a states- 
man, and better than all the rest, he acknowledged God in 
all his ways, and "dared to do right," whether his con- 
stituents would hear or forbear. In a word, he was a 
manly man. 

Not every public officer can be held up as an example for 
the youth of our land to emulate ; but James A. Garfield is 
an exceptional case, and I would fain point to him as an 
example to all whom I can influence. His loving obedience 
to those in authority in his childhood home ; his willing- 
ness to do whatsoever his hands found to do during his youth 
to help support the family ; his fidelity in every office of 
trust ; his outreach for knowledge ; his unsullied moral life; 
his simple domestic life: his religious life so free from cant; 
his suavity of manner, and self-contained bearing in all of 
the exalted positions he filled ; his unalloyed affection for 
his mother ; his calmness, and religious acceptance of the 
situation when perforated with the assassin's bullets ; his 
almost Christ-like patience during the long weeks of his 
suffering in the enervating atmosphere at Washington; and 
the serenity with which he looked at approaching death,— 
all these are exponents of no ordinary person. 

The martrydom of our Pr< sident is ended. Last Monday 



night he closed his eyes on life's stage- the curtain fell — 
his sou] was taken to the Paradise of I rod, and the mourners 
go about the streets in the livery of sorrow. For a brief 
period, his aged mother survives him; hut according to the 
laws of nature, ore long her soul will wing itself to the 
Spirit world. And when that day shall come, who doubts 
that her devoted son will be among the first to welcome 
her where partings are unknown. 

In the ordinary business affairs of life, merchants keep a 
Ledger, and when they draw off a balance sheet, they con- 
sult both the debit and credit side of that Ledger. So. me- 
thinks, it should be in social and political life, we must look 
at both sides. 

In the death of our President we have been so occupie 1 in 
calculating the losses we have sustained, as gladly to close 
our eyes to all else. Now. this is wrong. 

It is an old truism that "every dark cloud has a silver 
lining.'' Let us for a moment search for a "silver lining" 
in the dark cloud that to-day broods over our nation. 

The first thing of such a character that I detect is that. 
"Our nation now recognizes God as its chief Governor." 
This was made manifest when the people got upon their 
knees, and prayed the Omnipotent Father to " spare our 
President." Persons not supposed to be praying men and 
women, boldly joined in the supplications for his recoA ery. 

Another part of the " silver lining" is, that although God 
is prayer-hearing and prayer-answering, yet he denied our 
cumulative request, and thereby show- the world that the 
American Republic is not dependent upon the wisdom and 
guidance of any one man be he never SO worthy. God 

wishes us to understand that he holds up the pillars of our 

government, as he does the pillars of all good governments. 

\\ e likew be detect a " silver lining in our great sorrow, 



15 

when we call to mind that President Arthur is better 
equipped and better qualified to administer the national 
affairs now, than he would have been had President Gar- 
field died immediately after he was assassinated. He has 
had an opportunity to discover that the " pulse beat " of 
our nation is in unison, and that ours is not a government 
for the preferment of politicans, but " a government of the 
people, for the people, and by the people." But, coupled 
with this, we must admit that notwithstanding the embar- 
rassing situation in which President Arthur unexpectedly 
found himself, he nevertheless has borne himself so dis- 
creetly, so chivalrously, so wisely, so tenderly, so honorably 
that thereby he has commended his course to the appro- 
bation of the wise and good of the land ; whilst in accepting 
" the cabinet " appointed by General Garfield for h is cabinet, 
he has avoided commercial disturbances, and thus has 
bespoken the loving loyality of the American people. 

When the Apostle said, "Honor the king," he meant, 
" Honor whoever is in authority over you." This is a his- 
toric fact; for when the Apostle wrote those words, he 
addressed Christians who did not live under a king, but 
under an emperor. 

General Arthur is now the constitutional president of 
the United States. We believe he enters upon his admin- 
istrative duties with a keen sense of his great responsi- 
bility. We believe he intends to administer the govern- 
ment impartially, and for the good of all the people. His 
record is good. His attainments are good, and he is 
entitled to our homage. Let us all honor and sustain him 
with a loving confidence, and "palsied be the tongue" that 
first assassinates his reputation without cause ; for, unless 
we wish to transform our glorious Republic into a " com- 
munistic anarchy," we must not "speak evil of dignities;" 



for human nature has not changed since the day when 
Aristotle declared, "From an evil thought, an evil deed is 
only one step." 

And lastly, one of the grandest outcomes of this dreadful 
assassination, is the fact that "the chief man of the nation 
unostentatiously but openly proclaimed to all the world his 
loyalty to < Ihrist." 

He secured the most scientific physicians our country 
affords to further his recovery, but at the same time he 
virtually said to God in the ears of all the people, — ■ 

" All my trust on Thee is stayed, 

All my help from Thee T bring, 
Cover my defenseless head 

With the shadow of Thy wing." 

Beloved: — "Socrates died like a philosopher," but James 
A. Garfield died like a Christian 

In view of the foregoing, dares any one say, "Oui 
deceased President lived his life in vain"? 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



mi iimin 
013 789 736 2 £ 



